This week saw the invariable ‘100 days until Christmas’ memes posted all over the internet. Iterations of Christmas characters graced our news feed in various excited guises to remind us all that the season of peace and goodwill is fast approaching.

September it's an ideal time to visit Norwich with a spontaneous adult escape, as the attractions are quieter and prices can be cheaper as peak-season ends.When it comes to rest and relaxation, we have an indulgent range of hotels with some fantastic late summer deals available.

As England's first UNESCO City of Literature, Norwich, not surprisingly, has an impressive programme of literary events year-round. This month we're excitedly clutching tickets to Noirwich Crime writing Festival and next month we're looking forward to University of East Anglia's Autumn 2017 Literary Festival.

Thursford has become synonymous with the magic of Christmas, the wonder of performance and the joy of a shared experience, but it's not just a wintertime wonderland, the Thursford Collection offers a truly unique visitor experience from April to September.

Whether you're already familiar with Norwich or not, there is always more to discover when you have an experienced guide. Autumn is a great time to explore the city as the leaves start to fall and the wonderfully warm colours begin to come through; just don't forget your camera!

Now the nights are starting to draw in, there's an unmistakable hint of autumn in the air at Houghton. It's one of our favourite seasons, with the whole estate gently shifting into a blaze of red, orange and gold tones.

Summer is still hanging in there and we're determined to make the most of it and not pay any attention to the Halloween costumes and selection boxes sneaking into the shops. September can be one of the most beautiful months for sunny days and warm evenings and there's still time to get out and make the most of it. Here's our guide to enjoying every last ray of sun.

As the thought of 'back to school' looms large for children, we thought we'd look ahead to all the reasons to be cheerful as autumn approaches. We may be waving goodbye to barbecues and beach days soon but how about kicking up the leaves on woodland walks, the return of the Sunday roast and clutching woolly gloves around steaming mugs of mulled wine? Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Everyone loves a Bank Holiday but as the long school holidays roll on, it can be just another big hit for your wallet. If you're trying to keep yourself, or your family, entertained over the long weekend (Saturday 26th to Monday 28th August), here's a look at what's going on and what it's going to cost you.

Norwich is bursting with wonderful heritage treasures, as are the surrounding historic market towns. This year the Heritage Open Days programme is bigger than ever with more than 250 local events granting you FREE access to some of the hidden corners of our history.

In the UK alone, 80 million photos are shared each day between 14,000,000 users on Instagram. On Facebook there are 32,000,000 UK users of 1.65 billion in the world. In salute to these astounding numbers here are 5 less obvious places to visit in Norwich which we hope will inspire some social sharing and learning all at the same time!

Many of us want to get active but it can be hard to find the time, never mind the energy! One of the best ways to get motivated is when there's an opportunity to combine activity with fun. How about swapping the spinning class for an hour in a canoe, or giving your arms and legs a workout while learning to master a windsurf or paddleboard?

Why not dedicate this week to doing something you've never done before? There is so much going on in Norwich and Norfolk, how about jumping in a canoe for a guided trail through the Broads? Have you ever been to a disco on a boat? Is it time to discover a new band or artist? You can do it all this week!

Now the summer holidays have really begun, it can be difficult to think of ways to keep yourself and family entertained without emptying your wallet each day. Here are five FREE things to do in Norwich this week.

The Norwich Lanes was crowned Great British High Street of the Year in 2014 and in 2017 it’s even better! Jarrolds – Norwich’s only independent department store (and an award-winning one at that) made its home in the Norwich Lanes in 1770 and has never looked back. Still owned by the Jarrold family, it’s Norwich’s retail jewel in the crown; quality brands and labels, beauty treatments, a delightful book department with local books section and frequent author events, plus numerous places to eat and drink as well as a deli so you can pick up some local produce to take home; beer, wine and organic chocolates.

When was the last time you spent the day with a Crocklebog or a Thornyclod? When did you last listen to the tuneful call of the Parasquawk or have a picnic with a Hippopotamuddle? BeWILDerwood is a place where true adventure waits, where you can swoosh down slides, whoosh across wobbly wires and teeter around in the tree tops. To find out more about this enchanted, award-winning, family friendly forest has to offer, take a look at this week's guest post from BeWILDerwood.

We’re delighted to share with you an incredible NEW film launching today - 'Norwich...a story', has been created and gifted to Norwich Cathedral by local BAFTA winning film maker, Rob Whitworth. Using a unique ‘flow-mo’ technique (a phrase coined by Rob’s dad) this film joins a select list of destinations across the globe - Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Barcelona, Pyongyang, Dubai, Sydney, Istanbul and Singapore - for which Rob has created films. This is the first flow-motion film that Rob has made in the UK.

Inside the alcoves of a medieval church, puppets sit on shelves waiting for their turn to be brought to life, to perform in the spotlight and to make children smile and laugh. The 15th century flint church of St James' at Whitefriars, is the characterful home of a collection of puppets, all waiting patiently for their chance to tell a story.

How do you feel about leaving your crumpled bed sheets for a couple of nights in a countryside king-size? Interested in swapping your morning shower for a restful soak in a bath big enough for two? Or, ditching your microwave dinner for an evening of silver service? It’s time to treat yourself, say hello to spontaneity and book a city getaway! Whether you want one night of indulgence, or you’re whisking the family away for a few days of school holiday fun, Norwich is packed with accommodation to suit every style of break and budget.

The Noirwich Crime Writing Festival (14 – 17 September) is an annual event celebrating all things crime fiction, bringing together leading authors and the best new talent. Crime addicts can indulge in the full festival fix with a Season Pass – if you love suspense, thrills and mysteries, this is the festival for you!

If you're taking a stroll around the University of East Anglia and look up to see a lone male, eerily perched on the top of a campus building, you're not witnessing an emergency, you're experiencing the breath-taking work of contemporary British artist, Antony Gormley.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE CLOISTERS

There's still time to get tickets to The Shakespeare Festival at Norwich Cathedral – on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th at 7pm – when The Lord Chamberlain's Men perform 'A Comedy of Errors'. The play follows two pairs of identical twins - when they were babies, the twins and their parents were separated in a shipwreck; now, years later, as one half of the twins searches for the other, they unwittingly find themselves in the same city on the same day. Tickets are £20 for adults and £18 for concessions - tickets are limited so hurry!

Grab your most colourful clothes, paint your face and pack a picnic because a beautiful rainbow will be over the city on Saturday 29th July. Norwich Pride is the annual celebration of the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) community for everyone.

This week is one of the busiest of the year for entertainment, thanks to three days of Lord Mayor's Celebration events. There's also outdoor Shakespeare, a teddy bears' picnic and a disco that's perfect for insomniacs!

When you think of Sherlock Holmes you're likely to be picturing the dimly lit streets of London with an eerie fog lingering in the air but, did you know that the Norfolk countryside has also had its part to play in the popular novels?

Can you believe we are already half way through the year? There's plenty going on as we head into July and prepare for the school holidays. If you want to do something different this week, we've got a floating dance floor, a kitchen made of mud, a donut challenge and the closest thing to a night in Venice!

NORWICH CASTLE MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 29th JULY - 1st OCTOBER

Nelson & Norfolk is a landmark exhibition at Norwich Castle, celebrating the country's greatest naval hero and exploring his relationship with our county. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see objects which have never before been brought together in a single display. To complement this extensive exhibition, there is also a programme of special events, talks and workshops.

Summer is officially here! We've already seen several hot and sunny days as spring departed but, whether you're a sun seeker or someone who would prefer to shelter, there are plenty of great indoor and outdoor adventures to have this week